News

Tharwa Bridge re-opens again

“This is a significant milestone for the restoration project of this historic bridge, and I am pleased that traffic will now be able to use the main connection between Tuggeranong and the Tharwa community,” Mr Corbell said.

“Stage three works has been underway for the last two years and has involved removal of the old bridge deck and barrier railings as well as installation of new cross girders and sway braces to the permanent trusses.

Weekly Newsletter

Every Thursday afternoon, we package up the most-read and trending RiotACT stories of the past seven days and deliver straight to your inbox..

“In May, the new 108 metre long and 100 tonne timber deck was installed and has now been tied into the rest of the bridge structure. This work required the bridge to be closed to traffic for 14 weeks since mid-March 2011.”

A total of $26 million has been allocated to the project with $14.7 million provided by the ACT Government and $11.3 million provided by the Federal Government through the Roads to Recovery program. The work has been undertaken by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority who are highly experienced in the conservation and maintenance of old timber bridges.

For those interested in some history on the bridge, as noted it opened in 1895, but the guys who operate the Canberra’s Engineering Heritage web site say that a bridge opening ceremony took place on 27 March, 1895, a day which was declared a public holiday. More info at: http://www.engineer.org.au/chapter01.html

I think they should have knocked it down a long time ago and replaced it with a bridge made out of concrete and steel. It may be the only bridge of its kind in the country but personally, I think it is no thing of beauty anyway.

So you can’t see the historical significance of rebuilding the bridge? All too often these days these sorts of things are just destroyed and we lose them.

Peronally I love Tharwa, the general store, Cuppacumbalong & the historic feel that Tharwa has. No where less in the ACT is the same (Hall bass be developed somewhat).

The bridge suits the area & I am glad they rebuilt it in it’s original design albiet with modern improvements.

I think they should have knocked it down a long time ago and replaced it with a bridge made out of concrete and steel. It may be the only bridge of its kind in the country but personally, I think it is no thing of beauty anyway.

They just said on radio that it could have built a new bridge for $8 Mil or replace the old one for $26 Mil.

That’s an extra $18 Million well spent.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

I doubt a bridge that has a span of over 100m that is 20 odd m off the river bank could be built for 8 million. I bet the bridges that are going onto the Monaro Highway will be more than that & half the infrastructure is already there for them.